What People Don't Understand About Binge Eating Disorder
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Binge Eating Disorder is the most prevalent of all of the eating disorders.
and, binge eating disorder is arguably the most misunderstood eating disorder.
The National Eating Disorder Association describes Binge Eating Disorder as:
“Binge eating disorder (BED) is a severe, life-threatening, and treatable eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food (often very quickly and to the point of discomfort); a feeling of a loss of control during the binge; experiencing shame, distress or guilt afterwards; and not regularly using compensatory measures (e.g., purging) to counter the binge eating.”
There are many misunderstandings about Binge Eating Disorder Treatment
Despite being the most prevalent eating disorder, the misunderstandings about causes and effective treatment of binge eating disorder mean that many people who are struggling don’t seek help.
Along with that, because of this lack of understanding, it can be difficult to find evidence based, effective treatment. Many of our clients here at Reclaim Therapy in Pennsylvania have shared experiences in previous treatment attempts that only drove them deeper into binge eating behaviors, leaving them feeling broken and alone.
Because of this (and many other factors) binging is often steeped in such intense shame, it can be hidden away for years, leaving people suffering in silence.
As Binge Eating Therapists specializing in BED, we want you to know that we get it.
Our eating disorder therapists understand and see the depth of your struggle. The shame, the hiding, the pain, the middle of the night research, the attempts at overhauling your diet, and wishing you just had more willpower. Because our therapists specialize in the treatment of binge eating disorder, we’ve sat with people and heard the stories.
what people don’t understand about binge eating disorder is that it has absolutely nothing to do with willpower.
Binge eating disorder is often a result of restriction or deprivation- bingeing is the body’s response to find an energy balance. When the body is deprived and is in need of energy (food), there is no amount of willpower that will stop it.
which is why another diet simply won’t be your ticket to recovering from binge eating disorder.
Additional restriction will likely only propel you further into binge eating patterns. People who don’t understand binge eating disorder will likely recommend another diet- not knowing that part of recovery is relearning how to feed yourself frequently and adequately- the opposite of what the latest fad diet will encourage and prescribe.
people often don’t understand that binge eating disorder isn’t all about the food.
And, it’s not as simple as the well-intended (but quite harmful!!) advice to “just stop eating”.
It is about self-soothing.
And it is about being at war with your body because of body image issues.
It is about being disconnected from your body as a result of emotional overwhelm and trauma.
People don’t understand the immense role that shame and secrecy play in binge eating disorder.
And, that binge eating disorder can be a struggle for anyone. In any sized body. Of any gender identification, race or age. In fact, people who identify as men are five times more likely to experience binge eating disorder than women. Yet, they are epically underrepresented in treatment settings.
Additionally, people don’t understand that recovering from binge eating disorder isn’t about “trying harder”. The people we work with here at here Reclaim Therapy in Pennsylvania have tried. And tried. And tried again. If it were about trying hard, you wouldn’t be here right now.
We’re ready to help you try different in Binge Eating Treatment in Pennsylvania.
if you’re struggling with binge eating disorder, our binge eating therapists want you to know that you’re not broken- and you don’t have to do this alone.
Here at Reclaim Therapy in Pennsylvania we provide evidence-based, trauma informed therapy for binge eating treatment in Pennsylvania. Our services are offered via online therapy in Pennsylvania and at our Horsham, PA therapy office. We are a non-diet therapy practice and are passionate about helping people access the tools they need to find healing and enter recovery from binge eating disorder.
You deserve a peaceful relationship with food and your body. Our binge eating therapists will be here to support you when you’re ready.
🧡,
Reclaim Therapy provides in person and online therapy in Pennsylvania
We are a group of eating disorder therapists. This means that many of our clients struggle with eating disorders including body image issues, binge eating disorder, anorexia, bulimia or a number of other unhealthy patterns related to eating & exercise. That said, an eating disorder doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Therefore, our therapists are able to help with a wide ranges of other mental health concerns as well including trauma, EMDR and loss and grief. The mental health clinicians at our practice provide in person therapy in Horsham, PA. Additionally, we offer online counseling & therapy in Pennsylvania via zoom so we can meet with people needing specialized eating disorder treatment throughout the state. Contact us to learn more about how we can support you on your road to recovery.